Thursday, September 21, 2023

Tempos in the 50s (got up to 60!), rain early, partly sunny afternoon, wind west 15-25 diminishing as the day went on.

Weather, Sept 21, 2023

The Emperor Geese were still at Clam Lagoon today.

As I was going around Clam Lagoon, Aaron told me he had two Tufted Ducks with a flock of Greater Scaup out on the lagoon earlier.

When I got to Lake Shirley, the flock had moved over there.

Tufted Duck, Lake Shirley, Sept 21, 2023

At the Seawall, I had an adult Common Murre with a not-quite-full-grown young.

Common Murres, Seawall,, Sept 21, 2023. Note the smaller size and shorter bill on the young bird.

However, the most exciting thing of the day was when I first approached the Adak National Forest. I saw a yellow bird dive into the spruces. At first, I wasn’t sure I had actually seen “yellow.” Lighting can play tricks on you.

But I waited patiently and after about 25 minutes out popped a Yellow Warbler! It was very uncooperative for photos, but I persisted.

This is only the second record for Adak and only the third for the Western Aleutians (Attu).

Yellow Warbler, Adak National Forest, Sept 21, 2023
Yellow Warbler, Adak National Forest, Sept 21, 2023
Yellow Warbler, Adak National Forest, Sept 21, 2023

This obviously is a new bird for my Adak list. Number 160!

When I ran into Aaron, I informed him bout the warbler and his group got to see it later today.

Later in the Afternoon, Aaron had a Brambling near the High School Spruces.

I went up to Clam Lagoon this evening and spent 45 minutes scouring the flock of teal having their evening repast. No Garganey…

I close with the Annual Mandatory Rainbow photo.

Rainbow, Sept 21, 2023

-My Trip List is 47 and Year List is 79.

You can see my eBird list at https://ebird.org/checklist/S150453187